Software Engineering Lead and Application Architect - TS/SCI with Polygraph

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 219,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan options with HSA

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. is seeking a Lead Engineer to drive the end-to-end software engineering function for mission and enterprise applications in classified environments.

You will own architecture, secure development standards, the full development lifecycle, and overall technical health of the portfolio. Responsibilities include leading teams across web, backend, API, workflow, and AI-enabled capabilities, establishing standards, and mentoring staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of professional software development experience.
• 5+ years leading development teams and 3+ years in architecture/lead authority.
• Deep production experience in Python, Java, C#/.NET, TypeScript/JavaScript/Node, Go, or C++.
• Experience establishing secure SDLC/DevSecOps with Git, peer review, CI/CD, and vulnerability scanning.
• Experience modernizing/integrating legacy enterprise systems under uptime and security constraints.
• Strong knowledge of containers, Kubernetes/OpenShift, and cloud environments.

Responsibilities

• Own application architecture principles, reference patterns, technology standards, coding standards, API/event patterns, UI practices, and technical decisions.
• Lead software teams delivering web, backend, API, workflow, data-integrated, and AI-enabled capabilities.
• Establish repository, branching, code review, automated testing, dependency, security scanning, release, and documentation standards.
• Translate requirements into solution designs, backlogs, estimates, risks, and production-ready releases.
• Design integration and modernization approaches for legacy systems using adapters, APIs, and event-driven patterns.
• Ensure applications meet identity/access, data handling, audit/logging, resilience, and performance requirements.
• Partner with Platform/DevSecOps, Security, Data, AI, ServiceNow, Requirements, and Operations on lifecycle gates.
• Manage technical debt, architecture drift, defect trends, test coverage, and vulnerability remediation.
• Hire and mentor software personnel, address performance, and create progression paths.
• Brief Government leadership on delivery status, risks, and roadmap decisions.

Skills

Applications Architecture

Architecture Principles

DevSecOps

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science / Software Engineering or related field

Tools

Kubernetes/OpenShift

Azure Government Cloud

Internal Artifact Management

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking a Lead Engineer to drive the end-to-end software engineering function for mission and enterprise applications across classified environments. This role is accountable for application architecture, secure development standards, the full development lifecycle, and the overall technical health of the application portfolio, including management of technical debt, code quality, integration patterns, and production readiness.

Job Requisition and Eligibility

• Type of Requisition: Regular
• Clearance Level Must Currently Possess: Top Secret SCI + Polygraph
• Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret SCI + Polygraph
• Public Trust/Other Required: None
• Job Family: IT Infrastructure and Operations
• Job Qualifications: Skills: Applications Architecture, Architecture Principles, DevSecOps
• Certifications: None
• Experience: 10 + years of related experience
• US Citizenship Required: Yes
• Location: Onsite
• Clearance: Active TS/SCI with Polygraph

Key Responsibilities

• Own application architecture principles, reference patterns, technology standards, coding standards, API/event patterns, UI practices, and technical exception decisions.
• Lead software teams delivering web, backend, API, workflow, data-integrated, ServiceNow-adjacent, and AI-enabled mission capabilities.
• Establish repository, branching, code review, automated testing, dependency, security scanning, release, documentation, and definition-of-done standards.
• Translate approved requirements and acceptance criteria into solution designs, increments, technical backlogs, estimates, risks, and production-ready releases.
• Design integration and modernization approaches for legacy systems using adapters, APIs, events, strangler patterns, feature flags, and graceful degradation.
• Ensure applications implement identity/access, data classification, validation, audit/logging, error handling, accessibility/usability, resilience, and performance requirements.
• Partner with Platform/DevSecOps, Security, Data, AI, ServiceNow, Requirements, and Service Operations on lifecycle gates and operational handoff.
• Manage technical debt, architecture drift, defect trends, test coverage, vulnerability remediation, performance, and reliability improvement.
• Hire, lead, mentor, assign, review, and develop software personnel; address performance issues and create progression paths.
• Brief Government and program leadership on delivery status, technical risk, alternatives, product quality, and roadmap decisions.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or approved equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of professional software development experience, including 5+ years leading development teams and 3+ years in application architecture or technical-lead authority.
• Deep production experience in at least two enterprise language stacks, such as Python, Java, C#/.NET, TypeScript/JavaScript/Node, Go, or C++.
• Strong experience with web/API architecture, relational and non-relational data, integration, authentication/authorization, testing, observability, and production operations.
• Experience establishing secure SDLC/DevSecOps practices with Git, peer review, automated testing, CI/CD, dependency/container scanning, artifact promotion, and release controls.
• Experience modernizing or integrating legacy enterprise systems under uptime, security, and compatibility constraints.
• Working knowledge of containers, Kubernetes/OpenShift, Azure/government cloud, internal artifact management, and disconnected development.
• Strong understanding of RMF/STIG, secure coding, data handling, auditability, vulnerability remediation, and production-readiness evidence.
• Demonstrated people leadership, hiring, delegation, mentoring, performance management, conflict resolution, and cross-team delivery.
• Experience briefing Government customers and translating mission outcomes into executable application plans.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AI-enabled application patterns, RAG integration, ServiceNow development/integration, workflow automation, or operational analytics.
• Experience with microservices and modular monoliths, event-driven architecture, API gateways, message queues, and contract/schema governance.
• Experience with SRE practices, performance testing, resilience, feature flags, progressive delivery, and accessibility.
• CSSLP, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, DevOps Engineer Expert, and relevant architecture/agile/SAFe credentials.
• Prior DoW/IC application delivery in a disconnected environment.

Location & Schedule

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Travel Required: None

Telecommuting Options: Onsite

Work Location: USA VA Chantilly

Additional Work Locations: None

Salary & Compensation

The likely salary range for this position is $161,500 - $218,500. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Benefits

• Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match.
• To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave.
• To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available.
• We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Work Culture & Employer Information

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.

Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities.

Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals.

Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, and competitive pay and paid time off.

Community: Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace.

OWN YOUR OPPORTUNITY Explore an enterprise IT career at GDIT and you’ll find endless opportunities to grow alongside colleagues who share your desire to drive operations forward.

#GDITcareers #OpportunityOwned #WeAreGDIT #transitioningmilitary #clearedjobs #veterans #Autobots #IntelligenceEngineered

Identity Verification Process

• As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud.
• You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews.
• We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.
• By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.

About GDIT

We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. Join our Talent Community to stay up to date on our career opportunities and events at gdit.com/tc.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans Opportunity Owned From working with technologies like AI, cyber and cloud to careers in intelligence and health, we offer endless opportunities to apply your expertise to create a safer, smarter world.